While Brazil and Croatia were facing off at the Arena Corinthians in São Paulo on Thursday, protesters clashed with police not too far away.
Brazilian military police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the manifestations in multiple cities, including in São Paulo, as citizens voiced their displeasure with the massive expenditure incurred by the country to host the world's biggest sporting event. Some attempted to block the access routes to the Arena Corinthians in São Paulo, resulting in a handful of arrests.
The last World Cup hosted by Brazil came in 1950. The country hosted last year's FIFA Confederations Cup, which was also targeted by protesters.
One of the injured in the clashes was a CNN producer covering the events (WATCH it here).
“The police response was absurd,” one 24-year-old witness told TheNew York Times. “This is a violation of our rights.”
The following four photos give a snapshot of the unrest:
dlCatalogctl00_lblImageCaption">Military policemen advance inside of Tatuape metro station in São Paulo during a protest against the 2014 World Cup (Courtesy: REUTERS/Nacho Doce/Action Images)
dlCatalogctl00_lblImageCaption">A demonstrator uses an extinguisher against military policemen at Tatuapé metro station in São Paulo (Courtesy: REUTERS/Nacho Doce/Action Images)
dlCatalogctl00lblImageCaption">dlCatalogctl00lblImageCaption">A demonstrator is detained after clashes with police during a protest against the 2014 World Cup in Porto Alegre (Courtesy: REUTERS/Edgard Garrido/ Action Images)
Police detain a protester during a demonstration against the 2014 World Cup in São Paulo (Courtesy: REUTERS/Marco Bello/Action Images)
